Associate Dean Susan Weeks has been promoted to Dean of Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences, according to an email from Provost Nowell Donovan Friday afternoon.

Weeks was previously serving as acting dean. The previous dean, Paulette Burns, died from pancreatic cancer last December.

Donovan wrote in the email that Weeks has his “complete confidence” in continuing Harris College’s “great march toward national distinction.”

Weeks was one of three candidates in a dean search that brought two outside candidates to speak on campus at open forums in February. All three candidates presented their visions for Harris College and Weeks spoke on Feb. 19.

Donovan added in February that his criteria for a dean is “someone who comes from some sense of academic pedigree, has innovative ideas for the future and fits the culture at TCU.”

Weeks has been a member of the nursing faculty since 1994, and received her doctorate from TCU in 2009.